Motion vector conversion method and conversion apparatus

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a motion vector conversion method by which the coding efficiency in image coding of MPEG4 in an image information conversion method can be further augmented. In the motion vector conversion method for an image information conversion method, every other one of P frames of a bit stream of MPEG2 is dropped to produce a bit stream of MPEG4 of a reduced frame rate and a low bit rate. Also for motion vector modification, information of each of macro blocks and between blocks in the inputted bit stream representative of image compression information of MPEG2 is stored in advance, and motion vectors of a P frame immediately preceding to each P frame to be dropped are duplicated based on the stored information. Then, the duplicated motion vectors are extended to twice in the temporal direction to produce motion vectors of MPEG4 converted from an intra-frame of MPEG2.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/973,749,filed Oct. 11, 2001, and is based upon and claims the benefit ofpriority from the related Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-312309,filed Oct. 12, 2000, the entire contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

The present application also contains the subject matter related toconcurrently filed U.S. Patent Applications by Takahashi, et al.entitled “Motion Vector Conversion Method and Conversion Apparatus”,based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the related JapanesePatent Application No. 2000-310836.

The related applications are assigned to the same assignee as thepresent application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a motion vector conversion method and a motionvector conversion apparatus for use with an image information conversionmethod and an image information conversion apparatus wherein the MPEGsystem is used to receive, through a satellite broadcast, a cable TV ornetwork media such as the Internet, or process, on such storage media asan optical or magnetic disk or a flash memory, a bit streamrepresentative of image information compressed by orthogonal transformsuch as discrete cosine transform and motion compensation.

In recent years, an apparatus which complies with the MPEG systemwherein image information is treated as digital data and compressed byorthogonal transform such as discrete cosine transform and motioncompensation making use of the redundancy unique to the imageinformation in order to transmit and store the information with a highefficiency has been and is being popularized in both informationdistribution of broadcasting stations and so forth and informationreception in general homes.

Particularly, the MPEG2 (ISO/IEC 13818-2) is defined as a generalpurpose image coding system and is a standardized system which coversboth interlaced scanned images and progressively scanned images as wellas standard resolution images and high resolution images. It isestimated that the MPEG2 is used for a wide variety of applications forprofessional use and for consumer use also in the future. The use of thecompression system of MPEG2 can achieve a high compression ratio and agood picture quality, for example, for both interlaced scanned images ofa standard resolution having 720×480 pixels or interlaced scanned imagesof a high resolution having 1,920×1,088 pixels at 4 to 8 Mbps byallocating a code rate (bit rate) of 18 to 22 Mbps.

Although MPEG2 is directed principally to high picture quality codingsuitable for broadcasting, it is not ready for a lower code rate (bitrate) than that of MPEG1, that is, it is not ready for a coding systemof a higher compression ratio. It is considered that the need for such acoding system as just described increases in the future a popularizationof portable terminals proceeds. In order to cope with the need,standardization of the MPEG4 coding system has been performed. Thestandards for the MPEG4 image coding system have been approved asinternational standards as ISO/IEC 14496-2 in December 1998.

Meanwhile, it is requested to convert a bit stream which representsimage compression information of MPEG2 coded once for digitalbroadcasting into another bit stream representative of image compressioninformation of MPEG4 of a lower code rate (bit rate) which is moresuitable for processing on a portable terminal or the like.

An example of a related art image information conversion apparatus whichsatisfies the request is shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, the imageinformation conversion apparatus shown converts a bit streamrepresentative of image compression information of MPEG2 inputtedthereto into another bit stream representative of image compressioninformation of MPEG4. In particular, the inputted bit streamrepresentative of image compression information of MPEG2 is decoded byan MPEG2 image information decoding apparatus 1. The decoded imagesignal is transmitted to a resolution frame rate conversion apparatus 2,by which it is converted into an image signal having an arbitrarydifferent resolution and frame rate. The image signal obtained by theconversion is inputted to an MPEG4 image information coding apparatus 3,by which it is coded into and outputted as a bit stream representativeof image compression information of MPEG4.

In the related art image information conversion apparatus, as seen inFIG. 1, the image signal decoded in accordance with the MPEG2 decodingsystem is coded by the MPEG4 image information coding apparatus, and abit stream representative of image compression information of MPEG4 isoutputted. The MPEG2 image information decoding apparatus 1 may beconfigured such that it performs a decoding process for both horizontaland vertical direction components using all eighth order DCT (discretecosine transform) coefficients of the bit stream representative of theinputted image compression information of MPEG2. However, the MPEG2image information decoding apparatus 1 may be configured otherwise suchthat it performs a decoding process wherein all eighth ordercoefficients in the vertical direction are used but only four lowerfrequency ones of eighth order coefficients in the horizontal directionare used (the decoding process is hereinafter referred to as 4×8 downdecoding) or another decoding process wherein only four lower frequencyones of eighth order coefficients in both the horizontal direction andthe vertical directions are used (the decoding process is hereinafterreferred to as 4×4 down decoding) in order to reduce the arithmeticoperation amount and the video memory capacity and simplify downsampling processing in the following stage while suppressing the picturequality deterioration to the minimum.

According to such a related art method as described above, when theMPEG4 image information coding apparatus codes an image signal inputtedthereto, the arithmetic operation processing amount for detecting amotion vector occupies approximately 60 to 70% of the total arithmeticoperation processing amount. This gives rise to such problems that realtime processing of an image becomes difficult, that a time delay occursand that a large apparatus scale is required.

As a countermeasure for solving such problems as just described, theinventors have proposed an image information conversion apparatus shownin FIG. 2. Particularly, the inventors have filed the followingapplications for patent in Japan relating to the image conversionapparatus shown in FIG. 2.

Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-129002 “Motion Vector ConversionApparatus and Method”: This application discloses a technique whereininformation of each of macro blocks of MPEG2 is used to select a motionvector of MPEG2 of that one of macro blocks of MPEG2 which exhibits thehighest coding efficiency to produce a motion vector of MPEG4.

Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-132915 “Motion Vector ConversionApparatus and Method”: This application discloses a technique whereininformation of each of macro blocks is used to select, based on lengthsof motion vectors, a motion vector of MPEG2 of that one of macro blocksof MPEG2 which exhibits the highest coding efficiency to produce amotion vector of MPEG4.

Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-191616 “Motion Vector ConversionApparatus and Method”: This application discloses a technique whereininformation of each of macro blocks is used to produce a P-VOP motionvector for an intra-macro block of MPEG2.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a correlation between a motion vector in abit stream representative of image compression information of MPEG2 anda motion vector in a bit stream representative of image compressioninformation of MPEG4 and particularly show images of a current framebefore and after resolution conversion, respectively. When theresolution of an image is converted, a horizontal component of a motionvector from the position in the preceding frame to a position in thecurrent frame after the conversion can be determined from a horizontalcomponent of a motion vector before the resolution conversion and theresolution conversion rate in the horizontal direction of the image. Avertical component of the motion vector after the resolution conversioncan be determined from a vertical component of a motion vector beforethe resolution conversion and the resolution conversion rate in thevertical direction of the image. In other words, the motion vectorbefore the resolution conversion and the motion vector after theconversion have a high correlation. The correlation can be utilized todetermine the motion vector after the resolution conversion from themotion vector before the resolution conversion.

In particular, the image information conversion apparatus of FIG. 2simply converts a motion vector in a bit stream representative of imagecompression information of MPEG2 inputted thereto into a motion vectorof MPEG4 making use of parameters such as a motion vector of a macroblock of MPEG2 and a macro block type. In an MPEG4 image informationcoding apparatus 7, detection of a motion vector is not performed, butimage coding using motion vectors obtained by conversion is performed.As a result, the MPEG4 image information coding apparatus 7 does notperform motion detection, and consequently, the processing amount isreduced significantly.

By performing conversion from a motion vector of MPEG2 into a motionvector of MPEG4 and adopting a parameter used for decoding of MPEG2 or aparameter after conversion in addition to a motion vector in thismanner, the processing amount of the MPEG4 image information codingapparatus 7 can be reduced. Consequently, the time delay by the MPEG4image information coding apparatus 7 can be reduced.

The bit stream representative of the inputted image compressioninformation of MPEG2 illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B undergoes decodingprocessing by an MPEG2 image information decoding apparatus 4 of FIG. 2,and a bit stream representative of image compression information ofMPEG4 is outputted. The MPEG2 image information decoding apparatus 4 maybe configured such that it performs a decoding process for both thehorizontal and vertical direction components using all eighth order DCTcoefficients of the bit stream representative of the inputted imagecompression information of MPEG2. However, the MPEG2 image informationdecoding apparatus 4 may be configured otherwise such that it performs4×8 down decoding or 4×4 down decoding in order to reduce the arithmeticoperation amount and the video memory capacity and simplify downsampling processing in the following stage while suppressing the picturequality deterioration to the minimum. The image signal outputted fromthe MPEG2 image information decoding apparatus 4 is sent to a resolutionframe rate conversion apparatus 5, in which resolution and frameconversion are performed and then an image signal having a resolutionsuitable for image coding of MPEG4 is produced with an image sizeadjustment flag inputted thereto from the outside. The thus producedimage signal is outputted from the resolution frame rate conversionapparatus 5.

More particularly, the resolution frame rate conversion apparatus 5first performs resolution conversion of the image signal inputtedthereto from the MPEG2 image information decoding apparatus 4 by meansof a resolution frame converter. Here, an example of resolutionconversion wherein the resolution is reduced to ½ for both of thevertical and horizontal directions is described. As seen in FIG. 4, inthe down sampling in the vertical direction, first fields or secondfields of inputted interlaced scanned images are extracted to convertthe images into progressively scanned images. In the down sampling inthe horizontal direction, a down sampling filter is used to convert eachimage into an image of a ½ resolution. Further, in order to achieve alow bit rate, not only compression by resolution conversion isperformed, but also first fields or second fields only of I/P picturesare extracted to lower the frame rate in the temporal direction. Forexample, I, B, B and P pictures of MPEG2 shown in FIG. 4 are convertedinto the first fields of the I and P pictures by resolution and framerate conversion. The images obtained by the resolution and frameconversion include a number of pixels arranged in numbers of rows andcolumns equal to multiples of 16 so that they can be coded in accordancewith a picture coding method of MPEG4. To this end, a circuit forsupplementing or removing pixels is employed to supplement or removepixels in accordance with an image size adjustment flag inputted fromthe outside.

The image size adjustment flag is inputted from the outside of theresolution frame rate conversion apparatus 5 and is used fordiscrimination of whether pixels should be supplemented to or removedfrom an image when the pixel number in the rows or columns of the imageis not a multiple of 16.

A process for an image with the image size adjustment flag is describedwith reference to FIG. 5. If it is assumed that the resolution of animage outputted from the MPEG2 image information decoding apparatus 4 ism×n pixels, then while both of m and n are multiples of 16, m/2 and n/2by down sampling to ½ in the vertical and horizontal directions aremultiples of 16 or have the remainder of 8 pixels when they are dividedby 16. Where both of m/2 and n/2 are multiples of 16, the image complieswith the MPEG4 coding system, and therefore, no processing is performedfor the image. In any other case, the image does not comply with theMPEG4 coding system, and therefore, it is necessary to process the imagewith the image size adjustment flag. The image size adjustment flagprovides two choices of supplementation and removal of pixels. When m/2or n/2 is divided by 16, if the remainder is 8 pixels, then if removalof pixels is selected, then the remaining 8 pixels are removed. In otherwords, the resulting output image has m/2−8 or n/2−8 rows or columns. Onthe other hand, if supplementation of pixels is selected, then 8 pixelsproduced newly, 8 pixels copied from the original image or 8 pixelssuitable for the image are added to the top or the bottom of the rows orcolumns of the image. Therefore, the output image has m/2+8 or n/2+8rows or columns. As a result, the horizontal and vertical resolutions ofthe image after the conversion become multiples of 16, and an imagehaving a size compliant with the coding system of MPEG4 is outputted.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the inputted bit stream representative ofimage compression information of MPEG2 undergoes variable lengthdecoding by the MPEG2 image information decoding apparatus 4. Further,macro block motion vectors only of P pictures and other parameters suchas the macro block type are extracted from the bit stream by the MPEG2image information decoding apparatus 4 and transmitted to a motionvector conversion apparatus 6.

A motion vector conversion method by the motion vector conversionapparatus 6 is described with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B. Each of thesquares defined by solid horizontal and vertical lines in FIGS. 6A and6B indicates a macro block. FIG. 6A shows an image outputted from theMPEG2 image information decoding apparatus 4, that is, an image beforeresolution conversion. FIG. 6B,shows an image obtained by converting thevertical and horizontal resolutions of the image of FIG. 6A into ½ bymeans of the resolution frame rate conversion apparatus 5. For example,a macro block of 16×16 pixels (hereinafter referred to as 16×16 macroblock) indicated with slanting lines at the left top corner of the imageof FIG. 6A before the conversion is converted into a block of 8×8 pixels(hereinafter referred to as 8×8 block) indicated with slanting lines atthe left top corner of the image of FIG. 6B. Further, four 16×16 macroblocks screened in FIG. 6A are individually converted, by resolutionconversion, into four 8×8 blocks as screened in FIG. 6B, and one 16×16macro block is formed from the four 8×8 macro blocks. Since thecorrelation between motion vectors before and after the resolutionconversion is high, a motion vector of an 8×8 block after the conversioncan be determined from a motion vector of a 16×16 macro block before theconversion. Further, a 16×16 motion block is determined from four 8×8motion vectors. Consequently, four 8×8 motion vectors and one 16×16motion vectors for use for coding in accordance with the image codingsystem of MPEG4 are produced.

A principle of operation of motion vector conversion is described withreference to FIG. 7 which shows a detailed configuration of the motionvector conversion apparatus 6 of the image information conversionapparatus of FIG. 2. Such parameters as a motion vector and an imagesize in the inputted bit stream representative of image compressioninformation of MPEG2 are used to produce an 8×8 motion vector beforemodification by an MPEG2 16×16 motion vector to 8×8 motion vectorconversion apparatus 8.

A principle of operation of the MPEG2 16×16 motion vector to 8×8 motionvector conversion apparatus 8 is described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 8. The MPEG2 16×16 motion vector to 8×8 motion vectorconversion apparatus 8 operates in the following manner based on amotion vector and a macro block type of an inputted macro block ofMPEG2. Since a bit stream of interlaced scanned image compressioninformation of MPEG2 usually uses a frame structure, a conversion methodwhich only includes processing of a bit stream of a frame structure isdescribed here.

In step ST-1, the MPEG2 16×16 motion vector to 8×8 motion vectorconversion apparatus 8 discriminates, based on the motion vector and themacro block type of the inputted macro block of MPEG2, which one of anintra-macro block, a skip macro block and an inter-macro block the macroblock is. If the macro block is an intra-macro block, then it is assumedthat an 8×8 block after resolution conversion of the intra-macro blockof MPEG2 has a motion vector. As processing for the intra-macro block ofMPEG2, in step ST-2, the motion vector of the 8×8 block is set to 0first, and then an intra-mode flag is provided in order to allowprocessing by a MPEG2 intra-macro block motion vector modifier 11 to beperformed. In MPEG2, when the macro block is an intra-macro block, anintra-mode flag is set.

If the macro block otherwise is a skip macro block, then the motionvector of each block is set to 0.

A concept of motion vector conversion where the macro block is aninter-macro block and the image has a frame structure and frameprediction is used is described with reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B. FIG.9A shows an image before resolution conversion while FIG. 9B shows theimage after the resolution conversion. As described hereinabove withreference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a horizontal component of a motion vectorafter conversion is determined from a horizontal component of a motionvector before the conversion and a resolution conversion rate in thehorizontal direction of the image. A vertical component of the motionvector is determined from a vertical component of the motion vectorbefore the conversion and a resolution conversion rate in the verticaldirection of the image. In particular, when the resolution in thehorizontal direction is converted into ½, also the horizontal componentof the motion vector after the conversion becomes ½ that before theconversion. When the resolution in the vertical direction is convertedinto ½, also the vertical component of the motion vector after theconversion becomes ½ that before the conversion.

The motion vector (8, 12) before conversion illustrated in FIG. 9Achanges to a motion vector (4, 6) after the conversion illustrated inFIG. 9B. It is to be noted that, in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the distancebetween middle values (half pixels) of integer pixels is representedby 1. In the image before the resolution conversion shown in FIG. 9A,each dark circle indicates the position of an integer pixel, and eachrhomb indicates the position of a half pixel. In the image after theresolution conversion shown in FIG. 9B, a half pixel is indicated by ablank circle. As can be seen from FIGS. 9A and 9B, a motion vectorindicated at the position of an integer pixel before conversion isindicated at the position of an integer pixel or a half pixel after theconversion, but a motion vector indicated at the position of a halfpixel before the conversion does not have a pixel referred to therebyafter the resolution conversion. Therefore, if a motion vector beforeconversion indicates the position of a half pixel, then also the motionvector after conversion is changed so as to indicate the position of ahalf pixel of a predictive image. Since a decoded image signaloriginally includes some distortion arising from quantization, if it isused as it is as a predictive image, then the prediction efficiency isdeteriorated and may sometimes cause picture quality deterioration. Inorder to reduce such prediction efficiency deterioration, a half pixelaccuracy wherein pixels on a reference screen which corresponds to alow-pass filter are linearly interpolated at 1:1 is sometimes selectedso that the picture quality deterioration may be prevented. Accordingly,also in coding in accordance with the image coding system of MPEG4, inorder to augment the prediction efficiency and prevent the picturequality deterioration, if a motion vector of MPEG4 indicates theposition of a half pixel, then also upon conversion into a format ofMPEG4, it is converted so that the motion vector may indicate theposition of a half pixel. A corresponding relationship between motionvectors before and after conversion is illustrated in a table of FIG.10.

FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate a concept of motion vector conversion wherean image has a frame structure and field prediction, particularly firstfield prediction, is used. A horizontal component of a motion vector isprocessed in a similar manner as in the image of

FIGS. 10A and 10B. For the vertical direction, the first fields areextracted to allow conversion of the resolution into ½. Since also theprediction used is the first field prediction, a motion vector beforeconversion becomes a motion vector after the conversion as it is.

A concept of motion vector conversion where an image has a framestructure and second field prediction is used is illustrated in FIGS.12A, 12B and 13. When resolution conversion is performed, since only thefirst field is extracted, pixel values of the first field are used as areference image after conversion. Therefore, temporal and spatialmodification of a motion vector is performed so that pixel values of thesecond field used as a predictive picture in MPEG2 are used for firstfield prediction after resolution conversion. FIGS. 12A and 12Billustrate a technique of spatial modification used to convert pixelvalues of second field prediction approximately into pixel values offirst field prediction. FIG. 12A illustrates a motion vector beforeresolution conversion while FIG. 12B illustrates a motion vector afterthe resolution conversion. In particular, “1” is added to a verticalcomponent of a motion vector. As can be seen from FIGS. 12A and 12B, if“1” is added to a vertical component of a motion vector determined by asecond field prediction, then the second field is shifted by one rowdistance so that it comes to a spatial position similar to that of thefirst field and the motion vector becomes a motion vector like a motionvector determined by first field prediction in the space. The expression(1) given below represents a vertical component of a motion vectorMV_(top) where the second field at a spatial position positioned at asimilar position to that of the first field by spatial modification,that is, an approximate first field, is used for prediction:Vertical component: approximate MV _(top) =MV _(bottom)+1  (1)

Meanwhile, interlaced scanned image compression information of MPEG2exhibits some displacement in time between the first field and thesecond field. Therefore, modification for the time displacement betweenthe first field approximated from the second field and the actual firstfield is performed. FIG. 13 illustrates a temporal positionalrelationship of different fields. Here, if the interval between thefirst field and the second field is represented by 1 and the intervalbetween the second field of an I picture and the first field of a Ppicture is represented by a, then the value a exhibits an odd numberlike 1, 3, 5, 7, . . . . It is to be noted that, where a is 1, picturesare I, P, P, P, . . . pictures. A time modified motion vector Mv′ isgiven by the following expression (2):Vertical component: MV′={(a+1)/a}approximate MV _(top)  (2)

By substituting the expression (1) into the expression (2), the verticalcomponent of the motion vector after the conversion is given by thefollowing expression (3):Vertical component: MV′={(a+1)/a} (MV _(bottom)+1)  (3)

It is to be noted that the horizontal component of the motion vectorafter the conversion can be determined by multiplying the motion vectorbefore the conversion by (a+1)/a, performing temporal modification andthen performing the calculation illustrated in the table of FIG. 10.

According to circumstances, spatial modification may be performed forthe vertical component of the motion vector after the temporalmodification is performed. The vertical component of the motion vectorMV′ in this instance is given by the expression (4) given below. It isto be noted that, if spatial and temporal modification is performed forthe horizontal component (time modification is performed after spatialmodification is performed), then the horizontal component exhibits asimilar value to that obtained when temporal and spatial modification isperformed (spatial modification is performed after temporal modificationis performed).Vertical component: MV′={(a+1)/a}MV _(bottom)+1  (4)

The difference between the expression (3) and the expression (4), thatis, the difference between the vertical components of the motion vectorwhen spatial and temporal modification is performed and when temporaland spatial modification is performed, is 1/a. Accordingly, since theinfluence of the difference differs depending upon the value of a,modification methods in two cases wherein a is equal 1 and wherein a is3, 5, 7, . . . are described.

First, a modification method where a=1 is described. By substituting 1into a of the expression (3), the vertical component of the motionvector is determined as given by the following expression (5):Vertical component: MV′=2×(MV _(bottom)+1)  (5)

By substituting 1 into a of the expression (4), the vertical componentof the motion vector is determined as given by the following expression(6):Vertical component: MV′=2×(MV _(bottom)−1)  (6)

As a result, if 0, 1, 2, . . . are substituted into the motion vectorMV_(bottom) before the conversion, then such even numbers as 2, 4, 6, .. . are obtained as the value according to the expression (5). On theother hand, such odd numbers as 1, 3, 5, . . . are obtained as the valueaccording to the expression (6). In other words, if spatial and temporalmodification is performed, then irrespective of whether the motionvector before the conversion is indicated at the position of an integerpixel or at the position of a half pixel, the motion vector after theconversion comes to the position of a half pixel. Accordingly, in orderto cause a motion vector, which is indicated at the position of aninteger pixel before conversion, to come to the position of an integerpixel also after the conversion, spatial and temporal conversion isperformed. On the other hand, in order to cause a motion vector, whichis indicated at the position of a half pixel before conversion, to cometo the position of a half pixel also after the conversion, temporal andspatial conversion is performed. In short, spatial modification andtemporal modification are used alternately for motion vectors beforeconversion to convert them into motion vectors after the resolutionconversion or to perform temporal and spatial modification for themotion vectors before the conversion.

After the motion vector conversion process described above comes to anend, an 8×8 motion vector of MPEG4 before modification is outputted. The8×8 motion vector outputted is transmitted to an image size adjustmentflag based motion vector adjuster 9 (FIG. 7), by which it is modifiedwith an image size adjustment flag inputted thereto from the outside toa motion vector suitable for an image size. The resulting motion vectoris outputted from the image size adjustment flag based motion vectoradjuster 9.

Operation of the image size adjustment flag based motion vector adjuster9 is described with reference to a flow chart of FIG. 14. In step ST-11,the image size adjustment flag based motion vector adjuster 9discriminates whether both m/2 and n/2 where the input image has a sizeof m×n pixels are multiples of 16. If both of m/2 and n/2 are multiplesof 16, then the image size adjustment flag based motion vector adjuster9 outputs the 8×8 motion vector of MPEG4 outputted from the motionvector conversion apparatus 6 as it is without processing the same. Ifm/2 or n/2 is not a multiple of 16, the image size adjustment flag basedmotion vector adjuster 9 uses the image size adjustment flag inputtedfrom the outside to discriminate whether or not pixels should be removedin step ST-12. If pixels should be removed, then the image sizeadjustment flag based motion vector adjuster 9 does not output the 8×8motion vector of the eight pixels removed but outputs another 8×8 motionvector. If it is discriminated in step ST-12 that pixels should not beremoved, then the image size adjustment flag based motion vectoradjuster 9 discriminates in step ST-13 whether or not pixels should besupplemented. If pixels should be supplemented, then the image sizeadjustment flag based motion vector adjuster 9 sets an 8×8 motion vectorof eight pixels supplemented to 0 and outputs the motion vector of 0together with the other inputted 8×8 motion vectors.

Referring back to FIG. 7 again, the 8×8 motion vector outputted from theimage size adjustment flag based motion vector adjuster 9 and suitablefor the image size is converted by an MPEG4 8×8 motion vector to MPEG416×16 motion vector conversion apparatus 10 or an MPEG4 8×8 motionvector to MPEG4 16×16 motion vector conversion apparatus 15 shown inFIG. 16.

The motion vector conversion apparatus 10 of FIG. 7 divides the sum ofmotion vectors of those of four blocks cooperatively forming a macroblock which are converted from a macro block which is not an intra-macroblock b the number of those blocks to calculate an average motion vectorand outputs the average motion vector as a 16×16 motion vector.

This is described with reference to FIG. 16. As a first method, theMPEG4 8×8 motion vector to MPEG4 16×16 motion vector conversionapparatus 15 selects, from among 8×8 motion vectors of MPEG4 for themacro block produced by an MPEG2 16×16 motion vector to MPEG4 8×8 motionvector conversion apparatus 12, the motion vector produced from one ofthe pertaining macro blocks which is considered to have the highestcoding efficient, and outputs the selected motion vector as a 16×16motion vector of MPEG4.

The discrimination of the coding efficiency is performed based oninformation of the individual macro blocks stored in a macro blockinformation buffer 14 and representative of image compressioninformation of MPEG2 inputted to the image information conversionapparatus.

In short, the first method determines that one of four macro blockswhich includes the least number of non-zero DCT coefficients has thehighest coding efficiency. A second method determines that one of fourmacro blocks which includes the least number of bits allocated to DCTcoefficients of brightness components has the highest coding efficiency.A third method determines that one of four macro blocks which includesthe least number of bits allocated to DCT coefficients has the highestcoding efficiency. A fourth method determines that one of four macroblocks which includes the least total number of bits allocated to themacro block including motion vectors and so forth has the highest codingefficiency. A fifth method determines that one of four macro blockswhich has the smallest allocated quantization scale has the highestcoding efficiency. A fifth method determines that one of four macroblocks which has the lowest complexity has the lowest coding efficiency.The complexity X allocated to each macro block is calculated inaccordance with the following expression (7) using the quantizationscale Q allocated to the macro block and the bit number B of the macroblock:X=Q−B  (7)where B may be the bit number allocated to the entire macro block, ormay be the bit number allocated to DCT coefficients or else may be thebit number allocated to DCT coefficients allocated to brightnesscomponents.

Referring back to FIG. 16, as the second method, the MPEG4 8×8 motionvector to MPEG4 16×16 motion vector conversion apparatus 15 counts, fromamong 8×8 motion vectors of MPEG4 for the macro blocks produced by theMPEG2 16×16 motion vector to MPEG4 8×8 motion vector conversionapparatus 12, that motion vector produced from the macro block which isconsidered to have the highest weight twice in an overlappingrelationship, and determines that one of the totaling five 8×8 motionvectors which has a length of a middle value has the highest codingefficiency and selects and outputs the 8×8 motion vector as a 16×16motion vector of MPEG4. Here, for the comparison in length betweenmotion vectors, the sum of the squares of the lengths in the horizontaldirection and the vertical direction is used, but a process ofdetermining a square root is omitted.

The discrimination of the weight is performed based on information ofthe individual macro blocks of the bit stream stored in the macro blockinformation buffer 14 and representative of image compressioninformation of MPEG2 inputted to the image information conversionapparatus.

In particular, a first method determines that one of four macro blockswhich includes the least number of non-zero DCT coefficients has thehighest weight. A second method determines that one of four macro blockswhich includes the least number of bits allocated to DCT coefficients ofbrightness components has the highest weight. A third method determinesthat one of four macro blocks which includes the least number of bitsallocated to DCT coefficients has the highest weight. A fourth methoddetermines that one of four macro blocks which includes the least totalnumber of bits allocated to the macro block including motion vectors andso forth has the highest weight. A fifth method determines that one offour macro blocks which has the smallest allocated quantization scalehas the highest weight. A fifth method determines that one of four macroblocks which has the lowest complexity has the lowest weight. Thecomplexity X allocated to each macro block is calculated in accordancewith the following expression (7) using the quantization scale Qallocated to the macro block and the bit number B of the macro block:X=Q−B  (8)where B may be the bit number allocated to the entire macro block, ormay be the bit number allocated to DCT coefficients or else may be thebit number allocated to DCT coefficients allocated to brightnesscomponents.

Referring back to FIG. 7 again, the 8×8 motion vectors suitable for theimage size outputted from the image size adjustment flag based motionvector adjuster 9 are inputted to the MPEG2 intra-macro block motionvector modifier 11. The 8×8 motion vector of each block converted from amacro block which has been an intra-macro block in the bit streamrepresentative of image compression information of MPEG2 is modified bybeing replaced with the 16×16 motion vector determined by the MPEG4 8×8motion vector to MPEG4 16×16 motion vector conversion apparatus 10. The8×8 motion vectors after the modification and the 16×16 motion vectordetermined by the MPEG4 8×8 motion vector to MPEG4 16×16 motion vectorconversion apparatus 10 are outputted as MPEG4 motion vectors.

A principle of operation of the motion vector modification is describedwith reference to FIG. 15 which shows a detailed configuration of theMPEG2 intra-macro block motion vector modifier 11 of FIG. 7. An 8×8motion vector suitable for an image size is inputted to the MPEG2intra-macro block motion vector modifier 11. When the intra-mode flag isin a set state, that is, when the macro block is an intra-macro block inthe bit stream which represents image compression information of MPEG2,a movable contact m of a switch SW is connected to a fixed contact aside, and the motion vector of the 8×8 block converted from theintra-macro block is replaced by a replacement apparatus PK with the16×16 motion vector determined by the MPEG4 8×8 motion vector to MPEG416×16 motion vector conversion apparatus 10. In this instance, themotion vector of the 8×8 block may alternatively be replaced with amotion vector converted from a motion vector of an inter-macro blockpresent around the intra-macro block, or otherwise may be replaced witha motion vector converted from a motion vector of an inter-macro blockwhich is nearest to the intra-macro block. It is to be noted that, ifall of the four blocks are converted from intra-macro blocks, the fourmotion vectors become 0, and also the 16×16 motion vector determined bythe MPEG4 8×8 motion vector to MPEG4 16×16 motion vector conversionapparatus 10 becomes 0. Therefore, the motion vector to be used forimage coding of MPEG4 becomes 0, and the macro-block type becomes theintra-mode type. On the other hand, when the intra-mode flag is not in aset state, that is, when no intra-macro block of MPEG2 is involved, themovable contact m of the switch SW is connected to another fixed contactb side, and the 8×8 motion vector inputted is outputted as it is.

Now, a re-search of a produced motion vector is described. A concept ofmotion vector conversion of an inter-macro block where an image has aframe structure and field prediction is used is illustrated in FIGS. 17Aand 17B. FIG. 17A shows a motion vector before resolution conversionwhile FIG. 17B shows the motion vector after the resolution conversion.As described hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, thehorizontal component of a motion vector after conversion can bedetermined from the horizontal component of the motion vector beforeconversion and a resolution conversion rate in the horizontal directionof the image. The vertical component can be determined from the verticalcomponent of the motion vector before the conversion and the resolutionconversion rate in the vertical direction of the image. In other words,if the resolution in the horizontal direction is converted into ½, thenalso the vertical component of the motion vector after the conversionbecomes ½ that before the conversion. The motion vector illustrated inFIGS. 9A and 9B changes, for example, from (8, 12) before conversion to(4, 6) after the conversion. It is to be noted that, in this instance,the distance between middle values (half pixels) of integer pixels isrepresented by 1. Before the resolution conversion of FIG. 17A, eachdark circle indicates the position of an integer pixel, and each rhombindicates the position of a half pixel.

As can be seen from FIGS. 17A and 17B, a motion vector indicated at theposition of an integer pixel before the conversion is indicated at theposition of an integer pixel or a half pixel after the conversion, but amotion vector indicated at the position of a half pixel before theconversion does not have a pixel to be referred to after the resolutionconversion. Therefore, where a motion vector before conversion indicatesthe position of a half pixel, the motion vector after the conversion ismodified so that it also indicates the position of the nearest integerpixel of a predictive image. This is intended to make the center pixelof a search window coincide with an integer pixel when pixels around themotion vector are re-searched in later motion vector modification.First, that one of motion vectors of integer pixels in a search windowwhich exhibits the smallest prediction error is determined, and thenhalf pixel values around the integer pixel are searched thereby toreduce the number of processing steps. A correspondence relationshipbetween motion vectors before and after conversion is illustrated inFIGS. 19A and 19B.

Alternatively, it is possible to produce a half pixel motion vector andperform a re-search around the half pixel as seen in FIGS. 9A, 9B, 10,11A, 11B, 12A and 12B. In this instance, however, a step of determiningthe half pixel value in the search window in advance is required,resulting in increase of the number of processing steps.

Now, a concept of motion vector conversion of an inter-macro block wherean image has a frame structure and first field prediction is used as thefield prediction is illustrated in FIGS. 19A and 19B. FIG. 19Aillustrates a motion vector before resolution conversion while FIG. 19Billustrates the motion vector after the resolution conversion. For thehorizontal component of a motion vector, a process similar to thatdescribed hereinabove with reference to FIG. 18 is performed. For thevertical component of the motion vector, the first fields are extractedto allow conversion of the resolution into ½. Further, since first fieldprediction is performed as the prediction, a motion vector before theconversion becomes a motion vector after the conversion as it is.

A concept of motion vector conversion of an inter-macro block wheresecond field prediction is used is illustrated in FIGS. 20A and 20B.FIG. 20A illustrates a motion vector before resolution conversion whileFIG. 20B illustrates the motion vector after the resolution conversion.Since only the first fields are extracted upon resolution conversion,after the conversion, pixel values of the first fields are used asreference images. Field line modification and motion vector modificationin the temporal direction are performed by a method similar to thatdescribed hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 12A and 12B, andthereafter, processing similar to that of FIG. 18 is performed for thepixel values in the horizontal direction as seen from integer pixelsafter the conversion.

Now, a motion vector modification process by a re-search is describedwith reference to FIG. 21. In particular, the motion vector modificationapparatus receives a motion vector scaled by the motion vectorconversion apparatus 6 of FIG. 2 and outputs a motion vector modifiedthrough a re-search in order to raise the coding efficiency. Further,the motion vector modification apparatus sets a size of a search windowin accordance with a motion vector modification direction informationflag. The motion vector modification direction information flag ishereinafter described with reference to FIGS. 23, 24A and 24B.

In particular, the motion vector modification apparatus performs are-search to modify a distortion caused by scaling of a motion vector bythe motion vector conversion apparatus 6 in order to determine a motionvector with a higher degree of accuracy. First, the motion vectormodification apparatus performs a motion vector search of ±2 integerpixels in the horizontal direction and ±1 pixel in the verticaldirection around an 8×8 motion vector of MPEG4 inputted thereto.Consequently, the search window centered at the motion vector determinedby the motion vector conversion apparatus 6 can be suppressedhorizontally to 5 pixels and vertically to 3 pixels thereby to reducethe processing number of the motion vector search significantly.Although the search window is set horizontally to 5 pixels andvertically to 3 pixels as just described, the search pixel numbers ofthe window in the horizontal and vertical directions need not be limitedto them and can be selected arbitrarily. In order to reduce the searchprocessing number, a motion vector modification direction informationflag hereinafter described may be used to set the size of the searchwindow for modification of a motion vector asymmetrically in the forwardand reverse directions.

FIG. 22 shows a configuration of the motion vector conversion apparatus(related art apparatus which was not known when the present applicationwas filed in Japan). The motion vector conversion apparatus is similarto the motion vector conversion apparatus 6 shown in FIG. 2. First, aconversion apparatus 221 performs spatial and temporal modification of amotion vector described hereinabove to produce an 8×8 motion vector.Then, a search apparatus 222 performs a re-search process of an 8×8motion vector with regard to the 8×8 motion vector as described above.For example, the search apparatus 222 performs a search, for example,with a search window with two integer pixels in the horizontal andvertical directions around the reference destination of the produced 8×8motion vector. Consequently, the prediction accuracy of the 8×8 motionvector can be improved. Then, prediction errors re-searched individuallywith regard to the four 8×8 motion vectors which form one macro blockand the 8×8 motion vectors for which the re-search process has beenperformed are inputted to a conversion apparatus 223.

The conversion apparatus 223 discriminates that one of the four 8×8motion vectors which exhibits the smallest prediction error among theprediction errors determined upon the re-search for an 8×8 motionvector, and allocates the discriminated motion vector to a 16×16 motionvector. Then, a search apparatus 224 performs a re-search process forthe produced 16×16 motion vector in a similar manner as described aboveto improve the prediction accuracy of the 16×16 motion vector. Thus, the8×8 motion vectors and the 16×16 motion vector of MPEG4 are produced andoutputted.

The 8×8 motion vectors and the 16×16 motion vector outputted areinputted to a half pixel search apparatus 225, from which 8×8 and 16×16motion vectors of the half pixel accuracy are outputted.

Here, the motion vector modification direction information flagmentioned hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 21 and 22 is describedwith reference to FIGS. 23A, 23B and 24. The motion vector modificationapparatus sets a size of a re-search window in the advancing directionof a motion vector with the motion vector modification directioninformation flag. First, if the MPEG2 motion vector before conversion isan integer pixel and also the MPEG4 motion vector after conversion hasan integer pixel value as seen in FIG. 23A, since a pixel of the samephase is present and no distortion occurs with the pixel value of themotion vector, a search window for motion vector modification is setsymmetrically in the advancing direction of the motion vector. However,if the MPEG2 motion vector before conversion has an integer pixel valueand the MPEG4 motion vector after the conversion has a half pixelaccuracy as seen in FIG. 23B, in order to modify it to an approximateinteger pixel value of MPEG4 by carrying up in the advancing directionof the motion vector, the search window is set so as to have a greaterpart in the reverse direction to the advancing direction of the motionvector thereby to reduce the search processing number. For example, asearch is performed with two integer pixel values in the reversedirection to the motion vector and with one integer pixel value in theforward direction. Naturally, if the motion vector of MPEG4 is set to anappropriate integer pixel value of MPEG4 by carrying down upon motionvector conversion, then the search window is set so as to be greater inthe forward direction with respect to the advancing direction of themotion vector.

Also in FIGS. 24A and 24B, the MPEG2 motion vector before conversionexhibits a half pixel accuracy. Upon conversion into an MPEG motionvector, in order to modify the motion vector to the nearest integerpixel value of MPEG4, the search window of the MPEG4 motion vectormodification apparatus can be set, based on the direction in which adistortion occurs, so as to be greater in the forward direction or thereverse direction with respect to the advancing direction of the motionvector similarly as in the case of FIG. 23B. Consequently, in order toreduce the processing number for motion vector re-search, the directionof the distortion of the motion vector is outputted from the motionvector conversion apparatus 6 and inputted to the motion vectormodification apparatus, by which a size of a search window optimum toperform a modification search for a motion vector can be set.

The MPEG4 image information coding apparatus 7 receives an output imagefrom the resolution frame rate conversion apparatus 5, performs codingof the output image in accordance with an image coding system of MPEG4using the motion vector of MPEG4 outputted from the motion vectorconversion apparatus 6, and outputs a bit stream representative of imagecompression information of MPEG4.

In the following, a different motion vector conversion method andconversion apparatus (which was not known when the present applicationwas filed in Japan) invented by the inventors of the invention of thepresent application is described.

FIG. 25 illustrates a concept of a correspondence relationship between apicture type and a VOP (Video Object Plane) type upon conversion from anMPEG2 stream into an MPEG4 stream. When a stream of MPEG2 of 30 framesper second wherein the GOP (Group Of Pictures) structure is N15M3 is tobe converted into another stream of MPEG4 of 5 frames per second whereinthe GOP structure is N5M1, every other ones of I and P frames areconverted into MPEG4 frames. Since one GOP of N5M1 of the stream ofMPEG4 corresponds to two GOPs of N15M1 of the stream of MPEG2 as seen inFIG. 25, upon conversion from MPEG2 into MPEG4, two cases are availableincluding a case wherein a P frame is dropped and another case whereinan I frame is dropped.

First, dropping of an I frame is described with reference to FIG. 26.Since an I frame I_(n−1) between P frames P_(n−2) and P_(n) does notinclude any motion vector, the motion vector of the dropped I framecannot be added to the motion vector MV_(n) of the pertaining macroblock to synthesize a motion vector. Therefore, in the pertaining macroblock, the motion vector MV_(n) of the macro block is spatially andtemporally modified by scaling in accordance with the method describedhereinabove in the description of the related art, and then the lengthof the motion vector MV_(n) in the temporal direction is extended twiceso as to refer to a VOP of MPEG4 converted from an I or P framepreceding to the dropped P frame to obtain a motion vector 2*MV_(n).Consequently, the VOP converted from the I or P frame immediatelyprecedes the frame whose motion vector of the P-VOP is referred to. Inthis manner, scaling by spatial and temporal modification is performed,and then, a motion vector extended to twice in the temporal direction isproduced and outputted as an 8×8 motion vector.

Now, dropping of a P frame is described with reference to FIGS. 27, 28,29 and 30. Referring first to FIG. 27, there is illustrated a concept ofa process when a P frame is dropped. Since a P frame P_(n−1) to bedropped between an I frame I_(n−2) and a P frame P_(n) has a motionvector MV_(n−1), the motion vector MV_(n−1) of the P frame to be droppedis added to the motion vector MV_(n) of the pertaining macro block toproduce a motion vector MV_(n−1)+MV_(n1) which refers to the framepreceding to the P frame to be dropped.

As shown in FIG. 28, a motion vector of the pertaining macro blockrefers to the frame to be dropped, and in this case, the pertainingreference area overlaps with a plurality of macro blocks to be referredto.

FIG. 29 illustrates in what manner the area MB₀ for reference overlapswith a plurality of macro blocks. As can be seen from FIG. 29, the areaMB₀ for reference may possibly overlap with one, two or four macroblocks (MB). The portions at which the area MB₀ for reference overlapswith the macro blocks MB are denoted by refMB#0, refMB#1, refMB#2 andrefMB#3. Motion vectors, macro block modes and prediction modes, bitnumbers or quantization scales of the P frame to be dropped are storedin a unit of a frame into a motion vector and macro block informationbuffer in order to allow later synthesis of motion vectors by addition.With regard to the pertaining macro block for which motion vectorconversion from MPEG2 to MPEG4 is to be performed, coordinates to bereferred to by the motion vector on the dropped P frame are calculated.As seen from FIG. 29, depending upon the coordinates referred to by themotion vector, the macro block MB₀ for reference may possibly overlapwith one, two or four macro blocks (MB) of the reference P framedropped. Where the macro block MB₀ for reference overlaps with aplurality of macro blocks, the coding efficiencies of the macro blocksare re-arranged in a descending order based on a parameter X determinedin advance.

In particular, in a first method, the parameter X is the “number ofpixels in each of the portions, overlapping with the macro block in theP frame next to the P frame to be dropped, of macro blocks in the Pframe to be dropped”; in a second method, the parameter X is the “numberof pixels in each of the portions, overlapping with the macro block inthe P frame next to the P frame to be dropped, of macro blocks in the Pframe to be dropped/macro block bit number”; in a third method, theparameter X is the “number of pixels in each of the portions,overlapping with the macro block in the P frame next to the P frame tobe dropped, of macro blocks in the P frame to be dropped/Q-scale” (the Qscale signifies a macro block quantization scale); in a fourth method,the parameter X is the “number of pixels in each of the portions,overlapping with the macro block in the P frame next to the P frame tobe dropped, of macro blocks in the P frame to be dropped/(macro blockbit number×Q-scale”; in a fifth method, the parameter X is 1/macro blockbit number; in a sixth method, the parameter X is the (1/Q-scale); andin a seventh method, the parameter X is 1/(macro block bitnumber×Q-scale). The highest one of the values of the parameter X isdetermined as a maximum value, and the lowest one of the values of theparameter X is determined as a minimum value. In FIG. 28, the parametersX according to the first to fourth methods described above areillustrated. In FIG. 28, “MB_(overlapped) area” denotes the number ofpixels in each of the portions, overlapping with the macro block in theP frame next to the P frame to be dropped, of macro blocks in the Pframe to be dropped”; “Coef bits” denotes the macro bit number; and“Q-scale” denotes the macro block quantization scale.

Now, a motion vector synthesis algorithm where a P frame is dropped isdescribed with reference to a flow chart of FIG. 30. First, from amongone, two or four macro blocks (MB) in the P frame to be dropped, whichoverlap with an MPEG2 motion vector of the pertaining area in order tobe referred to, those in which the macro block (MB) mode is Not Coded(whose DCT coefficients are not coded) and a number of pixels in theoverlapping macro block is greater than a threshold value T are searchedfor (step ST-21). The threshold value T is set, for example, to 100pixels. If at least one macro block (MB) of Not Coded is included in theoverlapping macro blocks, then the motion vector MV_(n−1) of the macroblock (MB) of Not Coded having the lowest macro block (MB) address isselected (step ST-22).

If a macro block of Not Coded (whose DCT coefficients are not coded) isnot included in the one, two or four macro blocks in the P frame to bedropped, which overlap with the MPEG2 motion vector of the pertainingarea in order to be referred to, then macro blocks in which the macroblock (MB) mode is No MC (no motion compensation) and a number of pixelsin the overlapping macro block is greater than the threshold value T aresearched for (step ST-23). The threshold value T is set, for example, to100 pixels. If at least one macro block of No MC is included in theoverlapping macro blocks, then the motion vector MV_(n−1) of the macroblocks of No MC having the lowest macro block address is selected (stepST-24).

If a macro block of Not Coded (whose DCT coefficients are not coded) orNo MC (No motion compensation) is not included in the one, two or fourmacro blocks which overlap with the MPEG2 motion vector of thepertaining macro block in order to be referred to, then it isdiscriminated in order beginning with the macro block which has themaximum parameter X described above whether or not the macro block (MB)mode of each of the macro blocks is an intra-macro block (MB (stepST-25). If the reference macro block is an intra-macro block, then it isdiscriminated whether or not the macro block which has the secondmaximum parameter X is an intra-macro block and it is discriminatedwhether or not all of the macro blocks which overlap with the pertainingmacro block are intra-macro blocks in order to be referred to (stepST-26). If all of the macro blocks which overlap with the pertainingmacro block in order to be referred to are intra-macro blocks, then azero motion vector (MV) is selected (step ST-27).

If a macro block which is not an intra-macro block is searched out instep ST-25, then the processing advances to a next discriminationroutine. In particular, it is discriminated whether or not theprediction mode of the macro block which is not an intra-macro block isfield prediction wherein the second field is referred to (step ST-28).If the field prediction wherein the second field is referred to is used,then similar discrimination is performed for the reference block whichhas the second maximum parameter X (step ST-29). If N (the number ofintra-macro blocks) reference macro blocks use the field predictionwherein the second field is referred to, then the motion vector MV_(n−1)of the reference macro block (MB) which has the highest parameter X(step ST-30) is selected. N is a number determined in advance and hasthe value of 1, 2, 3 or 4. If a macro block which does not use the fieldprediction wherein the second field is referred to is searched out, thenthe motion vector MV_(n−1) of the macro block is selected (step ST-31).A motion vector to be added to the motion vector of the pertaining macroblock is selected in this manner.

FIG. 31 illustrates temporal modification of a motion vector whichrefers to the second field. Scaling (resolution conversion) of themotion vector obtained by the addition is performed in accordance with amethod similar to the scaling method wherein spatial and temporalmodification is performed for a motion vector described hereinabove inthe description of the related art. Consequently, if the motion vectorobtained by the addition refers to the second field of the referenceframe, then field modification is performed for the vertical componentof the motion vector, and then the motion vector is extended by anamount equal to one field distance in the temporal direction as vectormodification. As seen in FIG. 31, the field distance between thepertaining field and the second field to be referred to is denoted by a,and therefore, the motion vector is multiplied by (a +1)/a in order totemporally modify the same for one field. An 8×8 motion vector isdetermined in this manner and outputted.

FIG. 32 shows a configuration of a motion vector conversion apparatuswhich drops an I frame. Referring to FIG. 32, the motion vectorconversion apparatus is similar to the motion vector conversionapparatus 6 described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 2. First,motion vectors of MPEG2 are inputted to a motion vector spatial-temporalmodification apparatus 321, by which spatial and temporal modificationof the motion vectors is performed in a similar manner as describedhereinabove to produce 8×8 motion vectors. Then, the 8×8 motion vectorsare inputted to an 8×8 MV re-search apparatus 322, in which a re-searchprocess for 8×8 motion vectors is performed as described hereinabove inthe description of the related art. For example, a search windowcentered at a reference destination of each of the produced 8×8 motionvectors is produced with two integer pixels in the horizontal andvertical directions, and a search is performed within the search window.Consequently, the prediction accuracy of the 8×8 motion vector can beimproved. Then, prediction errors re-searched with regard to four 8×8motion vectors which form one macro block and the 8×8 motion vectors forwhich the re-search process has been performed are inputted to an 8×8 MVto 16×16 MV conversion apparatus 323.

The 8×8 MV to 16×16 MV conversion apparatus 323 discriminates that oneof the four 8×8 motion vectors which has the lowest prediction error andallocates the discriminated motion vector to the 16×16 motion vector.Then, the produced 16×16 motion vector is inputted to a 16×16 MVre-search apparatus 324, by which a re-search process is performedsimilarly as described in the description of the related art to improvethe prediction accuracy of the 16×16 motion vector. The 8×8 motionvectors and the 16×16 motion vector of MPEG4 produced in this manner areoutputted.

FIG. 33 shows a further configuration of the motion vector conversionapparatus wherein a P frame is dropped. Referring to FIG. 33, the motionvector conversion apparatus shown is similar to the motion vectorconversion apparatus 6 described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 2.First, motion vectors of MPEG2 are inputted to a changeover switch 351.The changeover switch 351 is switched to an MV and MB information buffer352 side when information of a P frame to be dropped is received, but isswitched to a reference MB address calculation apparatus 354 and amotion vector extension spatial-temporal modification apparatus 357 sidewhen information of any other P frame is received.

The MV and MB information buffer 352 stores motion vector informationand macro block prediction modes of P frames to be dropped in a unit ofa frame and, according to circumstances, stores the bit amount and thequantization scale of each of the macro blocks. The reference MB addresscalculation apparatus 354 accepts motion vectors of a P frame next to aP frame to be dropped and calculates a reference position of each of themotion vectors. The reference position of the motion vector is inputtedto an addition motion vector discrimination apparatus 353, by whichmacro blocks of the P frame to be dropped which overlap with thereference pixel are calculated based on the reference position. Theaddition motion vector discrimination apparatus 353 makes use of thisinformation to perform processing based on such a technique of selectinga motion vector to be added as described above, and outputs a motionvector to be added. The outputted motion vector is added to the motionvector of the pertaining macro block to produce a synthesized motionvector.

Motion vectors synthesized in this manner are inputted to a motionvector spatial-temporal modification apparatus 355, by which spatial andtemporal modification scaling is performed for the motion vectors in asimilar manner as described hereinabove in the description of therelated art and in the paragraphs given hereinabove to produce 8×8motion vectors. the motion vector extension spatial-temporalmodification apparatus 357 and a motion vector re-search apparatus 358are used to determine a motion vector in accordance with the extensionmethod and perform processes similar to those of the motion vectorspatial-temporal modification apparatus 321 and the 8×8 motion vectorre-search apparatus 322, respectively. Consequently, motion vectors areproduced by them. The motion vectors outputted from the motion vectorre-search apparatus 356 and the motion vector re-search apparatus 358are inputted to an 8×8 motion vector selection apparatus 359. The 8×8motion vector selection apparatus 359 outputs those of the motionvectors from the motion vector re-search apparatus 356 and the motionvector re-search apparatus 358 which have smaller predictive residualsas 8×8 motion vectors. An 8×8 MV to 16×16 MV conversion apparatus 60 anda 16×16 motion vector re-search apparatus 361 operate similarly to the8×8 MV to 16×16 MV conversion apparatus 323 and 16×16 MV re-searchapparatus 324 of the motion vector conversion apparatus of FIG. 32,respectively, to produce a 16×16 motion vector. The 8×8 motion vectorsand the 16×16 motion vector of MPEG4 produced in this manner areoutputted.

In this manner, when a P frame is dropped, two different kinds of motionvectors including motion vectors determined by extension of motionvectors of four blocks which form one macro block and a motion vectordetermined by addition of the motion vectors. A re-search process isperformed subsequently for the motion vectors and a motion vector whichexhibits the smallest prediction error is outputted as an 8×8 motionvector of MPEG4. The method of the re-search may be similar to themethod described hereinabove in the description of the related art, and,for example, the range of search of the search window is two integerpixels in the vertical and horizontal directions. Consequently, twomotion vectors can be determined by a re-search for each of four blockswhich form one macro block.

Then, prediction errors of the two motion vectors for one block arecompared with each other, and one of the motion vectors which exhibitsthe lower predictive residual is outputted as an 8×8 motion vector. Inthis manner, between motion vectors determined by the method wherein amotion vector is extended and the method wherein motion vectors areadded, the motion vector which has the highest coding efficiency can beselected to produce an 8×8 motion vector. Thereafter, prediction errorsdetermined by a re-search of the four 8×8 motion vectors of MPEG4 of amacro block are compared with one another to discriminate the 8×8 motionvector which exhibits the smallest prediction error. The 8×8 motionvector which exhibits the smallest prediction error is allocated to a16×16 motion vector. Then, a re-search is performed also for theselected 16×16 motion vector similarly as in the 8×8 motion vectorre-search method described hereinabove to optimize the coding efficiencyof the 16×16 motion vector.

In this manner, in a procedure wherein image information compressioninformation of MPEG2 is inputted to determine 8×8 and 16×16 motionvectors of MPEG4, the motion vector conversion apparatus extends or addsthe motion vectors and performs motion vector modification by are-search of the scaled motion vector information centered at each ofthe motion vectors. Consequently, a reduction in coding efficiency of animage coding apparatus of MPEG4 can be minimized.

FIG. 34 shows a yet further configuration of the motion vectorconversion apparatus. Referring to FIG. 34, the motion vector conversionapparatus shown is similar to the motion vector conversion apparatus 6described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 2. First, an MPEG4 to MPEG28×8 MV conversion apparatus 271 performs spatial and temporalmodification of motion vectors described above to produce 8×8 motionvectors. Then, a motion vector integer pixel search apparatus 272performs a re-search process for each of the 8×8 motion vectors asdescribed hereinabove in the description of the related art. Forexample, a search window centered at a reference destination of each ofthe produced 8×8 motion vectors is produced with two integer pixels inthe horizontal and vertical directions, and a search is performed withinthe search window. Consequently, the prediction accuracy of the 8×8motion vector can be improved. Then, prediction errors re-searched withregard to four 8×8 motion vectors which form one macro block and the 8×8motion vectors for which the re-search process has been performed areinputted to an 8×8 motion vector to 16×16 motion vector conversionapparatus 273.

The 8×8 motion vector to 16×16 motion vector conversion apparatus 273discriminates that one of the four 8×8 motion vectors which has thelowest prediction error among the prediction errors determined upon the8×8 motion vector re-search and allocates the discriminated motionvector to the 16×16 motion vector. Then, the produced 16×16 motionvector is inputted to a motion vector integer pixel search apparatus274, by which a re-search process is performed similarly as describedhereinabove in the description of the related art to improve theprediction accuracy of the 16×16 motion vector. The 8×8 motion vectorsand the 16×16 motion vector of MPEG4 produced in this manner areoutputted.

The 8×8 motion vectors and the 16×16 motion vector of MPEG4 outputtedare inputted to a half pixel search apparatus 275, from which the 8×8and 16×16 motion vectors are outputted with a half pixel accuracy.

In this manner, in a procedure wherein image information compressioninformation of MPEG2 is inputted to determine 8×8 motion vectors and16×16 motion vectors of MPEG4, the motion vector conversion apparatusextends or adds the motion vectors and performs motion vectormodification by a re-search of the scaled motion vector informationcentered at each of the motion vectors. Consequently, a reduction incoding efficiency of an image coding apparatus of MPEG4 can beminimized.

The motion vector conversion apparatus described hereinabove withreference to FIG. 34 converts a motion vector of MPEG2 to produce amotion vector of MPEG4. However, when it converts a motion vector of anintra-frame of MPEG2 into a motion vector of MPEG4, it does not producemotion vector information but converts the motion vector of anintra-frame of MEPG2 into an I-VOP of MPEG4 (the I-VOP signifies a framecoded in the intra-mode of MPEG4). Consequently, the motion vectorconversion apparatus has a problem in that the I-VOP distance of a bitstream of MPEG4 is so small that the coding efficiency after conversioninto image compression information of MPEG4 (the bit stream) isdeteriorated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a motion vectorconversion method for an image information conversion method wherein abit stream representative of interlaced scanned image compressioninformation of MPEG2 is inputted and another bit stream representativeof progressively scanned image compression information of MPEG4 isoutputted, by which the coding efficiency in image coding of MPEG4 inthe image information conversion method can be further augmented.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a motion vectorconversion apparatus for an image information conversion apparatuswherein a bit stream representative of interlaced scanned imagecompression information of MPEG2 is inputted and another bit streamrepresentative of progressively scanned image compression information ofMPEG4 is outputted, by which the coding efficiency in image coding ofMPEG4 in the image information conversion method can be furtheraugmented.

In order to attain the objects described above, according to an aspectof the present invention, there is provided a motion vector conversionmethod for an image information conversion method wherein a bit streamrepresentative of interlaced scanned image compression information ofMPEG2 is inputted and a bit stream representative of progressivelyscanned image compression information of MPEG4 is outputted, comprisingthe steps of successively accepting 16×16 motion vectors of MPEG2 of theinputted bit stream representative of image compression information ofMPEG2, and successively producing 8×8 motion vectors of MPEG4 and 16×16motion vectors of MPEG4 based on the 16×16 motion vectors of MPEG2 suchthat every other one of P frames of the bit stream of MPEG2 is droppedto produce a bit stream of MPEG4 of a reduced frame rate and a low bitrate, the successively producing step serving also as a motion vectormodification step and including a step of storing information of each ofmacro blocks and between blocks in the inputted bit streamrepresentative of image compression information of MPEG2 in advance, astep of duplicating motion vectors of a P frame immediately preceding toeach P frame to be dropped based on the stored information and a step ofextending the duplicated motion vectors to twice in the temporaldirection to produce motion vectors of MPEG4 converted from anintra-frame of MPEG2.

In the motion vector conversion method, 16×16 motion vectors of MPEG2 ofthe inputted bit stream representative of image compression informationof MPEG2 are successively accepted, and 8×8 motion vectors of MPEG4 and16×16 motion vectors of MPEG4 are successively produced based on the16×16 motion vectors of MPEG2 such that every other one of P frames ofthe bit stream of MPEG2 is dropped to produce a bit stream of MPEG4 of areduced frame rate and a low bit rate. Also for motion vectormodification, information of each of macro blocks and between blocks inthe inputted bit stream representative of image compression informationof MPEG2 is stored in advance, and motion vectors of a P frameimmediately preceding each P frame to be dropped are duplicated based onthe stored information. Then, the duplicated motion vectors are extendedto twice in the temporal direction to produce motion vectors of MPEG4converted from an intra-frame of MPEG2.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda motion vector conversion method for an image information conversionmethod wherein a bit stream representative of interlaced scanned imagecompression information of MPEG2 is inputted and a bit streamrepresentative of progressively scanned image compression information ofMPEG4 is outputted, comprising the steps of successively accepting 16×16motion vectors of MPEG2 of the inputted bit stream representative ofimage compression information of MPEG2, and successively producing 8×8motion vectors of MPEG4 and 16×16 motion vectors of MPEG4 based on the16×16 motion vectors of MPEG2 such that every other one of I frames andP frames of the bit stream of MPEG2 is dropped to produce a bit streamof MPEG4 of a reduced frame rate and a low bit rate, the successivelyproducing step including a step of utilizing, as a parameter fordiscrimination of the coding efficiency of a motion vector of MPEG4converted from an intra-frame of MPEG2, motion vector information ofeach of macro blocks and between blocks of the inputted bit streamrepresentative of image compression information of MPEG2 convertedimmediately preceding to the intra-frame to compare the motion vectorinformation with a prediction value of the 0 motion vector to select oneof the motion vectors which exhibit a comparatively small predictionresidual as a motion vector having a comparatively high codingefficiency.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a motion vector conversion method for an image informationconversion method wherein a bit stream representative of interlacedscanned image compression information of MPEG2 is inputted and a bitstream representative of progressively scanned image compressioninformation of MPEG4 is outputted, comprising the steps of successivelyaccepting 16×16 motion vectors of MPEG2 of the inputted bit streamrepresentative of image compression information of MPEG2, andsuccessively producing 8×8 motion vectors of MPEG4 and 16×16 motionvectors of MPEG4 based on the 16×16 motion vectors of MPEG2 such thatevery other one of I frames and P frames of the bit stream of MPEG2 isdropped to produce a bit stream of MPEG4 of a reduced frame rate and alow bit rate, the successively producing step serving also as a motionvector modification step and including a step of successively accepting8×8 motion vectors of MPEG4 converted by a motion vector conversionmethod from motion vectors of MPEG2 based on motion vector informationin the inputted bit stream representative of image compressioninformation of MPEG2, a step of performing a re-search for a motionvector centered at each of the input motion vector values to modify themotion vector, and a step of allocating that one of each four 8×8 motionvectors of MPEG4 cooperatively forming a macro block which exhibits thelowest prediction residual to a 16×16 motion vector to produce the 16×16motion vector.

With the motion vector conversion methods, a further high codingefficiency in image coding of MPEG4 in an image information conversionmethod can be achieved.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a motion vector conversion apparatus for an image informationconversion apparatus wherein a bit stream representative of interlacedscanned image compression information of MPEG2 is inputted and a bitstream representative of progressively scanned image compressioninformation of MPEG4 is outputted, comprising motion vector productionmeans for accepting 16×16 motion vectors of MPEG2 of the inputted bitstream representative of image compression information of MPEG2 andsuccessively producing 8×8 motion vectors of MPEG4 and 16×16 motionvectors of MPEG4, dropping means for dropping every other one of Pframes of the inputted bit stream of MPEG2 and supplying 16×16 motionvectors of MPEG2 of the remaining I frames and P frames to the motionvector production means so that a bit stream of MPEG4 of a reduced framerate and a low bit rate may be produced by the motion vector productionmeans, and storage means serving also as a motion vector modificationapparatus for storing information of each of macro blocks and betweenblocks in the inputted bit stream representative of image compressioninformation of MPEG2 in advance, the motion vector production meansbeing operable to duplicate motion vectors of a P frame immediatelypreceding each P frame to be dropped based on the information stored inthe storage means and extend the duplicated motion vectors to twice inthe temporal direction to produce motion vectors of MPEG4 converted froman intra-frame of MPEG2.

According to a yet further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a motion vector conversion apparatus for an image informationconversion apparatus wherein a bit stream representative of interlacedscanned image compression information of MPEG2 is inputted and a bitstream representative of progressively scanned image compressioninformation of MPEG4 is outputted, comprising motion vector productionmeans for accepting 16×16 motion vectors of MPEG2 of the inputted bitstream representative of image compression information of MPEG2 andsuccessively producing 8×8 motion vectors of MPEG4 and 16×16 motionvectors of MPEG4, dropping means for dropping every other one of Iframes and P frames of the inputted bit stream of MPEG2 and supplying16×16 motion vectors of MPEG2 of the remaining I frames and P frames tothe motion vector production means so that a bit stream of MPEG4 of areduced frame rate and a low bit rate may be produced by the motionvector production means, and selection means utilizing, as a parameterfor discrimination of the coding efficiency of a motion vector of MPEG4converted from an intra-frame of MPEG2, motion vector information ofeach of macro blocks and between blocks of the inputted bit streamrepresentative of image compression information of MPEG2 convertedimmediately preceding to the intra-frame to compare the motion vectorinformation with a prediction value of the 0 motion vector to selectthat one of the motion vectors which exhibit a comparatively smallprediction residual as a motion vector having a comparatively highcoding efficiency.

According to a yet further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a motion vector conversion apparatus for an image informationconversion apparatus wherein a bit stream representative of interlacedscanned image compression information of MPEG2 is inputted and a bitstream representative of progressively scanned image compressioninformation of MPEG4 is outputted, comprising motion vector productionmeans for accepting 16×16 motion vectors of MPEG2 of the inputted bitstream representative of image compression information of MPEG2 andsuccessively producing 8×8 motion vectors of MPEG4 and 16×16 motionvectors of MPEG4, and dropping means for dropping every other one of Iframes and P frames of the inputted bit stream of MPEG2 and supplying16×16 motion vectors of MPEG2 of the remaining I frames and P frames tothe motion vector production means so that a bit stream of MPEG4 of areduced frame rate and a low bit rate may be produced by the motionvector production means, the motion vector production means serving alsoas a motion vector modification apparatus and operable to successivelyaccept 8×8 motion vectors of MPEG4 converted by a motion vectorconversion apparatus from motion vectors of MPEG2 based on motion vectorinformation in the inputted bit stream representative of imagecompression information of MPEG2, perform a re-search for a motionvector centered at each of the input motion vector values to modify themotion vector, and allocate one of each four 8×8 motion vectors of MPEG4cooperatively forming a macro block which exhibits the lowest predictionresidual to a 16×16 motion vector to produce the 16×16 motion vector.

With all of the motion vector conversion apparatus, a further highcoding efficiency in image coding of MPEG4 in an image informationconversion method can be achieved.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description and theappended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich like parts or elements are denoted by like reference symbols.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a related art image informationconversion apparatus which converts a bit stream representative of imagecompression information of MPEG2 into another bit stream representativeof image compression information of MPEG4;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an image information conversionapparatus (related art) proposed by the inventors of the presentinvention which converts a bit stream representative of imagecompression information of MPEG2 into another bit stream representativeof image compression information of MPEG4;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrammatic views illustrating a correlationbetween a motion vector in a bit stream representative of imagecompression information of MPEG2 and another motion vector in anotherbit stream representative of image compression information of MPEG4;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a principle of operation of aresolution frame rate conversion apparatus in the image informationconversion apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a principle of operation ofsupplementing or removing a pixel of the resolution frame rateconversion apparatus in the image information conversion apparatus ofFIG. 2 in accordance with an image frame size adjustment flag;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrammatic views illustrating a motion vectorconversion method of a motion vector conversion apparatus in the imageinformation conversion apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the motionvector conversion apparatus in the image information conversionapparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a principle of operation of an MPEG216×16 motion vector to MPEG4 8×8 motion vector conversion apparatus inthe image information conversion apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrammatic views illustrating a concept of motionvector conversion of the MPEG2 16×16 motion vector to MPEG4 8×8 motionvector conversion apparatus in the motion vector conversion apparatus ofFIG. 7 wherein a frame structure and frame prediction are used;

FIG. 10 is a table illustrating handling after conversion into an MPEG48×8 motion vector of a motion vector of a half pixel accuracy in a bitstream representative of image compression information of MPEG2illustrated in FIG. 9;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrammatic views illustrating motion vectorconversion wherein the image illustrated in FIG. 9 has a frame structureand first field prediction is used;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are diagrammatic views illustrating motion vectorconversion wherein the image illustrated in FIG. 9 has a frame structureand second field prediction is used;

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic view illustrating motion vector conversionwherein the image illustrated in FIG. 9 has a frame structure and secondfield prediction is used;

FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating operation of a motion vectormodifier which operates with an image size adjustment flag in the motionvector conversion apparatus of FIG. 7;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a principle of operation of themotion vector modifier shown in FIG. 7 which performs motion vectormodification for an intra-macro block of MPEG2;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of themotion vector conversion apparatus in the image information conversionapparatus of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 17A and 17B are diagrammatic views illustrating a concept ofmotion vector conversion by the MPEG2 16×16 motion vector to MPEG4 8×8motion vector conversion apparatus, which performs a motion vectorre-search, in the motion vector conversion apparatus of FIG. 7 wherein aframe structure and frame prediction are used;

FIG. 18 is a table illustrating handling after conversion into an MPEG48×8 motion vector of a motion vector of a half pixel accuracy in a bitstream representative of image compression information of MPEG2 when amotion vector re-search is performed in the motion vector conversionapparatus of FIG. 7;

FIGS. 19A and 19B are diagrammatic views illustrating a concept ofmotion vector conversion wherein the image when a motion-vectorre-search is performed by the motion vector conversion apparatus of FIG.7 has a frame structure and first field prediction is used;

FIGS. 20A and 20B are diagrammatic views illustrating a concept ofmotion vector conversion wherein the image when a motion-vectorre-search is performed by the motion vector conversion apparatus of FIG.7 has a frame structure and second field prediction is used;

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a motion vector modificationapparatus;

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a motion vector re-search apparatuswhich performs a re-search process for an 8×8 motion vector and producesa 16×16 motion vector based on a predictive residual;

FIGS. 23A and 23B are diagrammatic views illustrating a distortion of amotion vector by spatial modification;

FIGS. 24A and 24B are diagrammatic views illustrating a distortion of amotion vector by spatial modification;

FIG. 25 is a diagrammatic view illustrating dropping of an I frame;

FIG. 26 is a diagrammatic view illustrating dropping of an I frame;

FIGS. 27 and 28 are diagrammatic views illustrating dropping of a Pframe;

FIG. 29 is a diagrammatic view illustrating in what manner a referencepixel overlaps with a plurality of macro blocks;

FIG. 30 is a flow chart illustrating a motion vector synthesis algorithmwhere a P frame is dropped;

FIG. 31 is a diagrammatic view illustrating temporal modification of amotion vector wherein the second field of a motion vector is referredto;

FIG. 32 is a block diagram showing another configuration of the motionvector conversion apparatus;

FIG. 33 is a block diagram showing a further configuration of the motionvector conversion apparatus.

FIG. 34 is a block diagram showing a still further configuration of themotion vector conversion apparatus;

FIG. 35 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a method of converting a VOPconverted from an intra-frame into a P-VOP to which a motion vectorconversion method of the present invention is applied;

FIG. 36 is a block diagram showing a motion vector conversion apparatusto which the present invention is applied; and

FIG. 37 is a block diagram showing an example of an I to P motion vectorconversion apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 35, there is illustrated a method of converting a VOPconverted from an intra-frame into a P-VOP to which the presentinvention is applied. Where the pertaining frame is an intra-frame,since it does not have a motion vector, motion compensation predictioncannot be utilized for image coding of the frame, resulting in areduction in coding efficiency. Therefore, in order to produce a motionvector to be utilized for motion compensation prediction, motion vectorsof a P frame immediately preceding the intra-frame to be dropped arestored into a buffer, and scaling for spatial and temporal modificationdescribed above is performed to duplicate the motion vectors on macroblocks at the same positions of the pertaining frame. Then, since theimmediately preceding P frame is dropped, the time interval to areference frame becomes doubled. Therefore, the copied motion vectorsare extended to twice in the temporal direction to perform modificationso that another P frame immediately preceding the P frame to be droppedis referred to.

FIG. 36 shows a configuration of a motion vector conversion apparatus towhich the present invention is applied. The motion vector conversionapparatus corresponds to the motion vector conversion apparatus 6 ofFIG. 2. A switch 381 operates in response to an I to P-VOP motion vector(MV) conversion flag such that it is switched to an I to P-VOP motionvector conversion apparatus 382 side when the pertaining frame is anMPEG2 intra-frame to be converted into an MPEG4 frame and theimmediately preceding MPEG2 frame is a P frame, but it is switched to aP to P-VOP motion vector conversion apparatus 383 side when thepertaining frame is any other frame.

The I to P-VOP motion vector conversion apparatus 382 is describedbelow. The P to P-VOP motion vector conversion apparatus 383 performsprocessing similar to that of the motion vector conversion apparatusdescribed hereinabove with reference to FIG. 2 in the description of therelated art.

FIG. 37 shows a configuration of the I to P-VOP motion vector conversionapparatus. Referring to FIG. 37, motion vectors of a P frame immediatelypreceding to an I frame to be dropped are stored into an MPEG2 motionvector buffer 371 first. The motion vectors of the macro blocks at thesame positions in the P frame to be dropped are duplicated into themacro blocks of the I frame. An MPEG2 to MPEG4 8×8 MV conversionapparatus 372 extends, after it performs spatial and temporalmodification of the motion vectors described hereinabove in thedescription of the related art, the motion vectors to twice in thetemporal direction so as to refer to a P frame immediately prior to theP frame to be dropped. Each of the thus converted 8×8 motion vectors ofMPEG4 is inputted to a 0 MV-prediction residual comparison apparatus373, by which a prediction residual of the 0 motion vector and aprediction residual of the 8×8 motion vector thus produced are comparedwith each other. Then, if the prediction residual of the 0 motion vectoris smaller than the prediction residual of the produced 8×8 motionvector, then the 8×8 motion vector is replaced with 0. The 8×8 motionvector thus outputted from the 0 MV-prediction residual comparisonapparatus 373 is used by a motion vector integer pixel search apparatus374 to perform a re-search within an arbitrary search window designatedwith an integer pixel value in accordance with a method similar to thatdescribed hereinabove in the description of the related art to improvethe prediction accuracy of the motion vector.

Then, an 8×8 MV to 16×16 MV conversion apparatus 375 receives the 8×8motion vectors and the respective prediction residuals produced by themotion vector integer pixel search apparatus 374 as inputs thereto, andallocates the 8×8 motion vector of one of four blocks cooperativelyforming each of the macro blocks which exhibits the smallest predictionresidual to a 16×16 motion vector and outputs the 16×16 motion vector. A0 MV-prediction residual comparison apparatus 376 receives the 16×16motion vector produced by the 8×8 MV to 16×16 MV conversion apparatus375 as an input thereto and compares it with the prediction residual ofthe 0 motion vector. If the prediction residual of the 0 motion vectoris smaller than the produced 16×16 motion vector, then the 0MV-prediction residual comparison apparatus 376 replaces the 16×16motion vector with 0. The resulting 16×16 motion vector is inputted to amotion vector integer pixel search apparatus 377. The motion vectorinteger pixel search apparatus 377 performs a re-search for the 16×16motion vector with integer pixels in accordance with the methoddescribed hereinabove in the description of the related art and outputsa resulting 16×16 motion vector. The 8×8 motion vectors and the 16×16motion vector determined with integer pixel values are inputted to amotion vector half pixel search apparatus 378, from which 8×8 and 16×16motion vectors of MPEG4 are outputted with a half pixel accuracy.

Although a bit stream representative of image compression information ofMPEG2 is inputted and a bit stream representative of image compressioninformation of MPEG4 is outputted as described above, the input and theoutput are not limited to the specific ones described, but they mayotherwise be bit streams representative of image compressioninformation, for example, of MPEG-1 or H.263.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been describedusing specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposesonly, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

1. (Canceled)
 2. A motion vector conversion method for an imageinformation conversion method wherein a bit stream representative ofinterlaced scanned image compression information of MPEG2 is inputtedand a bit stream representative of progressively scanned imagecompression information of MPEG4 is outputted, comprising the steps of:successively accepting 16×16 motion vectors of MPEG2 of the inputted bitstream representative of image compression information of MPEG2; andsuccessively producing 8×8 motion vectors of MPEG4 and 16×16 motionvectors of MPEG4 based on the 16×16 motion vectors of MPEG2 such thatevery other one of I frames and P frames of the bit stream of MPEG2 isdropped to produce a bit stream of MPEG4 of a reduced frame rate and alow bit rate; the successively producing step including a step ofutilizing, as a parameter for discrimination of the coding efficiency ofa motion vector of MPEG4 converted from an intra-frame of MPEG2, motionvector information of each of macro blocks and between blocks of theinputted bit stream representative of image compression information ofMPEG2 converted immediately preceding to the intra-frame to compare themotion vector information with a prediction value of the 0 motion vectorto select one of the motion vectors which exhibit a comparatively smallprediction residual as a motion vector having a comparatively highcoding efficiency.
 3. A motion vector conversion method for an imageinformation conversion method wherein a bit stream representative ofinterlaced scanned image compression information of MPEG2 is inputtedand a bit stream representative of progressively scanned imagecompression information of MPEG4 is outputted, comprising the steps of:successively accepting 16×16 motion vectors of MPEG2 of the inputted bitstream representative of image compression information of MPEG2; andsuccessively producing 8×8 motion vectors of MPEG4 and 16×16 motionvectors of MPEG4 based on the 16×16 motion vectors of MPEG2 such thatevery other one of I frames and P frames of the bit stream of MPEG2 isdropped to produce a bit stream of MPEG4 of a reduced frame rate and alow bit rate; the successively producing step serving also as a motionvector modification step and including a step of successively accepting8×8 motion vectors of MPEG4 converted by a motion vector conversionmethod from motion vectors of MPEG2 based on motion vector informationin the inputted bit stream representative of image compressioninformation of MPEG2, a step of performing a re-search for a motionvector centered at each of the input motion vector values to modify themotion vector, and a step of allocating one of each four 8×8 motionvectors of MPEG4 cooperatively forming a macro block which exhibits thelowest prediction residual to a 16×16 motion vector to produce the 16×16motion vector.
 4. (Canceled)
 5. A motion vector conversion apparatus foran image information conversion apparatus wherein a bit streamrepresentative of interlaced scanned image compression information ofMPEG2 is inputted and a bit stream representative of progressivelyscanned image compression information of MPEG4 is outputted, comprising:motion vector production means for accepting 16×16 motion vectors ofMPEG2 of the inputted bit stream representative of image compressioninformation of MPEG2 and successively producing 8×8 motion vectors ofMPEG4 and 16×16 motion vectors of MPEG4; dropping means for droppingevery other one of I frames and P frames of the inputted bit stream ofMPEG2 and supplying 16×16 motion vectors of MPEG2 of the remaining Iframes and P frames to said motion vector production means so that a bitstream of MPEG4 of a reduced frame rate and a low bit rate may beproduced by said motion vector production means; and selection meansutilizing, as a parameter for discrimination of the coding efficiency ofa motion vector of MPEG4 converted from an intra-frame of MPEG2, motionvector information of each of macro blocks and between blocks of theinputted bit stream representative of image compression information ofMPEG2 converted immediately preceding to the intra-frame to compare themotion vector information with a prediction value of the 0 motion vectorto select that one of the motion vectors which exhibit a comparativelysmall prediction residual as a motion vector having a comparatively highcoding efficiency.
 6. A motion vector conversion apparatus for an imageinformation conversion apparatus wherein a bit stream representative ofinterlaced scanned image compression information of MPEG2 is inputtedand a bit stream representative of progressively scanned imagecompression information of MPEG4 is outputted, comprising: motion vectorproduction means for accepting 16×16 motion vectors of MPEG2 of theinputted bit stream representative of image compression information ofMPEG2 and successively producing 8×8 motion vectors of MPEG4 and 16×16motion vectors of MPEG4; and dropping means for dropping every other oneof I frames and P frames of the inputted bit stream of MPEG2 andsupplying 16×16 motion vectors of MPEG2 of the remaining I frames and Pframes to said motion vector production means so that a bit stream ofMPEG4 of a reduced frame rate and a low bit rate may be produced by saidmotion vector production means; said motion vector production meansserving also as a motion vector modification apparatus and operable tosuccessively accept 8×8 motion vectors of MPEG4 converted by a motionvector conversion apparatus from motion vectors of MPEG2 based on motionvector information in the inputted bit stream representative of imagecompression information of MPEG2, perform a re-search for a motionvector centered at each of the input motion vector values to modify themotion vector, and allocate one of each four 8×8 motion vectors of MPEG4cooperatively forming a macro block which exhibits the lowest predictionresidual to a 16×16 motion vector to produce the 16×16 motion vector.